ABSTRACT
While rural crime can occur in isolated areas of the countryside, it can equally occur on the fringes of urban areas. Rural crime can be committed by travelling criminals undertaking cross-border criminality travelling a considerable distance to commit cruelty to animals. In recent times, the profile of rural crime has risen within police forces across the United Kingdom as it becomes more understood and recognised as a real threat to rural communities. Animal welfare concerns are linked to at least four of the Rural Crime Priorities and all the Wildlife Crime Priorities. These links must be recognised, and in particular, the Wildlife Crime Priorities relate to matters of serious concern. Social media is also used for the photographing and filming of many of these animal cruelty activities. The greater understanding of the links between rural and wildlife crime and its connections to other criminality can achieve positive results for animal welfare by investigating and detecting these crimes.
